Wrestling Inc’s Nick Hausman has found himself a part of the CM Punk scandal with All Elite Wrestling because he did standup comedy with Colt Cabana years ago.

After defeating Jon Moxley to capture the AEW World Championship at All Out, CM Punk went on an explosive rant during the media scrum. He spoke very little of winning the title, his match against Jon Moxley, or MJF returning to confront him at the end of the show.

Instead, CM Punk ripped Hangman Page, The Elite, and Colt Cabana while AEW President Tony Khan sat next to him. The Elite confronted Punk after the rant, resulting in a brawl, and the AEW World and Trios Championships being vacated on the following Dynamite.

Nick Hausman on CM Punk Contacting Him After the All Out Media Scrum

Wrestling Inc’s Nick Hausman recently appeared on the WrestleRoasts podcast and discussed CM Punk getting into contact with him following the media scrum. Dave Meltzer had reported that Punk spoke with Hausman after the PPV. Nick revealed that he told Dave that off the record but will discuss it now that he’s made it public.

Nick added that he had a falling out with Colt Cabana and Punk wasn’t aware when he referenced them doing comedy together at the media scrum. Hausman reached out to Punk’s camp yesterday and was informed that Larry (Punk’s dog) was allegedly injured during the brawl because the door was “kicked open”, according to Punk’s camp.

Nick stated that he’s reached out to AEW President Tony Khan multiple times since the media scrum at All Out but has not heard back. He added that he’s operating under the assumption that he will be invited back to Full Gear to participate in the media scrum at the PPV on November 19th. Hausman said that the injury to Larry the Dog during the brawl may not have been reported initially because he was taken to the vet days after All Out.

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit WrestleRoasts with a H/T to SEScoops for the transcription.

CM Punk’s days with AEW are seemingly at an end, but things will be far from easy for him if he somehow is brought back.

Punk has been suspended from AEW since September’s All Out Pay-Per-View for his role in the backstage fight.

Earlier this month, it was reported that AEW is seeking to buy out the remainder of his contract.

Refusing to Work

Many suspect that Punk will be released from AEW soon, but nothing has been confirmed by Tony Khan at this time.

In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reports that some of the “top people” in AEW have been saying that he is gone.

One unnamed star with AEW told Meltzer that Punk is not worth the trouble he’s brought.

“Punk won’t be back. His value on screen isn’t one percent worth the hassle and black cloud he causes backstage.”

Meltzer reports that Chris Jericho has made it very clear that he believes Punk’s time with AEW is over.

Jericho, who’s been with AEW since the start, has also said that he is unwilling to work with Punk again if he somehow returns.

The Observer adds that “many if not most of the key top names were saying that they wouldn’t work with him.”

Return to WWE?

If Punk is released from AEW, then WWE will likely be the only promotion that can afford his asking price.

WWE and Punk have been heavily critical of each other, stemming from Punk’s walkout in January 2014.

AEW reportedly is concerned about Punk returning to WWE and is negotiating a non-compete clause as part of their buy out.

CM Punk wanted wrestlers who have an issue with him to speak to him face-to-face, and Chris Jericho certainly did that.

During the AEW All Out 2022 post-show media scrum, Punk had explosive comments for AEW’s EVPs The Elite, former best friend Colt Cabana and ‘Hangman’ Adam Page.

Backstage, a fight broke out which resulted in Punk, Kenny Omega, the Young Bucks, and others being suspended.

Cancer

AEW’s roster is reported to be ‘anti-Punk’ at this time, with many believing he has proven to be toxic to the company.

Fightful Select was told by numerous sources that after the fight, Chris Jericho confronted Punk and was extremely unhappy with what had happened.

Jericho told Punk that he is a cancer to the AEW locker room, and that he has been detrimental to the company.

While Punk’s response was not captured verbatim, the two-time former AEW World Champion effectively told Jericho that it wasn’t his business and he should leave.

When Fightful reached out to Jericho and AEW regarding the matter, they did not hear back, but sources close to Punk confirmed the interaction happened.

After the heated words between the two, Jericho, fresh off an All Out win over Bryan Danielson, appeared on the media scrum.

Time’s Up for Punk

This week, it was reported that AEW’s third-party investigation into the All Out fight has concluded.

On his Wrestling Observer Radio show, Dave Meltzer said it was obvious by this week’s Dynamite who has been punished and who hasn’t.

While Dynamite saw no mention or sighting of Punk, a promo package aired highlighting the return of the Elite.

There have been talks that AEW will buy out the remainder of Punk’s contract, but fear he will sign with WWE.

The claims that CM Punk’s dog Larry was injured during the backstage fight at AEW All Out may not be entirely truthful.

Larry, a rescue from a Chicago shelter, was reportedly present during the backstage fight which pitted CM Punk and Ace Steel against the Young Bucks and Kenny Omega.

The fight has resulted in Punk, Steel, the Bucks, and Omega (among others) being suspended from AEW, with Steel later being fired.

Outright Lie

This week, CM Punk’s side claimed that Larry was injured before the fight backstage, as the Elite ‘kicked’ the door open.

It has been said the door hit Larry in the face, resulting in two of his teeth being knocked loose and later removed.

Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio Dave Meltzer said that when speaking to the Elite’s side, he was told this was a complete fabrication.

“What was said is basically, it’s an outright lie. I did have that told to me.”

Dave Meltzer.

Meltzer added that the timing of this ‘revelation’ about Larry is very suspect, given that Punk’s side has been reportedly sitting on this information for nearly two months.

“I had heard from his [CM Punk’s] side on and off since a couple of days right after it happened… Never in seven weeks have I heard anyone mention anything about the door opening [and] hitting the dog. The dog being hurt or anything like that. I just find that so weird.

“The side that was trying to defend him, all along, never brought that up once, and now all of a sudden, that’s the story. And like I said, the other side just called it a lie.”

Investigation Over

On his show, Meltzer added that the investigation into the matter is now complete.

He also added that judging by who was featured on AEW Dynamite last night and who wasn’t, it’s clear who is being punished.

Last night’s Dynamite saw no reference to Punk, but did feature a video package hyping the Elite’s return.

The investigation into the backstage fight at AEW’s All Out 2022 Pay-Per-View has reportedly reached its end.

After the show, CM Punk had explosive comments during the media scrum, lashing out at the Elite, former best friend Colt Cabana, and ‘Hangman’ Adam Page.

After Punk’s comments, a fight broke out backstage resulting in Punk, the Elite and others being suspended.

The Investigation

After the fight, AEW arranged for a third-party investigation into the matter to determine what happened and who is responsible.

Speaking on the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported that while talent are banned from discussing the matter, the investigation is over.

“Everyone is still banned publicly from talking about what happened and the situation. The investigation is over and you can tell by who’s back and who’s not back [who will be punished.]”

Dave Meltzer.

During this week’s AEW Dynamite, a video promo teased the return of Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks, and the trio was reported to be backstage.

This week’s Dynamite saw no mention of Punk, who is believed to have thrown the first punch.

CM Punk

There is a growing belief that CM Punk will lose his job with AEW as all signs have pointed to him instigating the fight.

On his show, Meltzer suggested that comments made by those close to Punk are a sign that the former World Champion is unhappy with the investigation.

“[Punk’s camp] mentioned that the investigation never talked to Lucy Guy [wife of Ace Steel who was present at the fight] which is true. They never did… He mentioned that which would tell you that he was not happy with the investigation.”

Dave Meltzer.

Ace Steel, who aided Punk in the fight, was fired from AEW last week, presumably for his role in what happened.

Meltzer added that with AEW teasing the return of the Elite this week, while avoiding Punk, it is clear what the investigation has determined.

“If what happened, happened as he [Punk] claimed, it would be the other way around. He would be the one back and they would be the ones not back. So I think that is pretty clear as far as to what the investigation found.”

Dave Meltzer.

Punk’s side have claimed that the Elite kicked the door open and instigated the fight, and if Punk threw the first punch, it was because he feared that the Bucks and Omega were about to fight him.

To borrow a phrase from the kids, ‘Big if true.’

With rumors of an imminent return of The Elite (Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks) to AEW television, a new report from Nick Hausman with Wrestling Inc. adds another layer to the already muddled situation between CM Punk and the AEW EVP’s.

This layer, however, seemingly paints Punk in a more sympathetic light than has otherwise been reported.

According to Hausman, AEW hasn’t even reached out to Punk since the fallout of AEW All Out. Reports state that after Punk verbally tore down Omega, Adam Page, MJF, The Young Bucks, and Colt Cabana during the All Out Media Scrum, he returned to his locker room and a ‘brawl’ between Punk, Kenny Omega, Nick Jackson, Matt Jackson, Ace Steele, Ace Steele’s wife, and Larry the Dog commenced.

Accounts vary as to who was at fault, who punched whom, who bit whom (though everybody is pretty sure that it was Ace Steele that bit Kenny Omega) and more, but most recent reports suggest that Punk was the one who ‘threw the first punch.’

Larry the Dog Was Injured

Now, however, a new report from Hausman seems to suggest that Punk may have been justified in his anger.

“From the perspective of Punk’s camp, the scrum itself — which became the talk of the wrestling world due to Punk’s comments on Colt Cabana, “Hangman” Adam Page, and The Elite — didn’t seem like a big deal, and only escalated once Punk’s locker room door was “kicked in” and accidentally hit Punk’s dog, Larry, in the face,” Hausman wrote. “At a pre-scheduled veterinarian appointment a few days later, Punk was informed that two of Larry’s teeth had been knocked loose and had to be removed.”

If that is indeed the case, many people believe Punk may have been justified in throwing hands.

“It was noted to us that Punk felt threatened and reacted in a legal way under Illinois’ Castle Doctrine laws, which allow for the use of force in defense of a person in their dwelling,” Hausman reported. “At this time, there is no litigation against Punk on behalf of anyone involved. It was also relayed to us that Steel’s wife, Lucy, was in the room during the incident, but has not been interviewed as part of the internal investigation into the matter.”

Hausman did not specify from whom in Punk’s camp he spoke with.

It should also be noted that most reports stated that The Elite brought AEW’s Head of Legal with them to confront Punk, which led to speculation that The Elite weren’t actually “looking for a fight” when they entered Punk’s locker room.

Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the third part investigation was nearing its conclusion, but that it was Punk who was stalling the proceedings. Meltzer also reported that Ace Steele was released from his AEW contract. Reports suggest that AEW is going to ‘buy out’ CM Punk’s contract, but that Punk doesn’t want to agree to any non-compete clauses should a buy out occur.

• Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks Expected Back in AEW “Imminently”

Could that mean that CM Punk has intentions to return to WWE? Was CM Punk the aggressor in the backstage fight? Is there any chance Punk could return to AEW? Is this whole thing one big storyline? Stick close to SEScoops for more information as it develops in this complicated, and utterly fascinating, story.

CM Punk and All Elite Wrestling are reportedly about to go their separate ways.

The 44-year-old returned to professional wrestling last year on Rampage: The First Dance. AEW sold out the United Center in Chicago on a rumor that CM Punk would be there and the crowd absolutely erupted when he arrived.

A year later, CM Punk appears to be on the way out of All Elite Wrestling following the brawl with The Elite at the All Out media scrum. The Elite are reportedly on their way back to the promotion.

• CM Punk Probably Won’t Return to AEW

Update on how Triple H Feels About Bringing CM Punk Back to WWE

WrestleVotes recently spoke to GiveMeSport and provided an update on how Triple H feels about bringing CM Punk back to WWE. It was previously reported that The Game was open to bringing the former AEW Champion back to the company but likely not on a full-time deal.

During the interview, WrestleVotes revealed that Triple H wanted nothing to do with CM Punk, and even less to do with the person (Phil Brooks) in July.

However, WrestleVotes claims that The Game’s stance on CM Punk has “softened” recently but animosity between the two still remains.

WrestleVotes added that it is “ridiculous” to say that the door is closed for Punk to return to the company, especially in the ‘war’ that is happening right now between the promotions.

H/T: GiveMeSport

Former AEW World Champion CM Punk has reemerged on social media for the first time since the All Out PPV.

CM Punk captured the AEW World Championship from Jon Moxley at the All Out PPV on September 4th. He was injured during the match and would likely have had to relinquish the title regardless.

However, the 44-year-old opted to go on a rant during the media scrum following the PPV. Despite just winning the title, CM Punk wanted to discuss his issues with The Elite, Colt Cabana, and Hangman Page while AEW President Tony Khan was seated directly beside him.

The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega reportedly went to CM Punk’s locker room following the rant and a brawl broke out. Ace Steel was released from the company and AEW is reportedly in negotiations for a contract buyout with the former champion.

CM Punk was stripped of the AEW World Championship on the Dynamite following All Out. He is a two-time AEW World Champion without defending the title a single time.

The Elite were stripped of their Trios Championships and have not appeared on AEW TV since the PPV.

CM Punk Hypes AJ Mendes’ New Film

CM Punk’s wife, AJ Mendes (FKA as AJ Lee in WWE), co-wrote the film ‘Blade of the 47 Ronin’ which was released today on Netflix. The 44-year-old posted a story on Instagram and told fans to go check out the film.

‘Blade of 47 Ronin’ is a sequel to the 2013 film ’47 Ronin’ starring Keanu Reeves. The story takes place 300 years after the original film and is about modern-day Samurai clans that exist in complete secrecy. You can check out a trailer for the film below.

Is CM Punk going to return to WWE? Not if those close to Head of Talent Relations Triple H can help it.

After walking out of WWE in January 2014, Punk joined AEW in August 2021 but is currently suspended for his role in the AEW All Out 2022 post-show backstage fight.

It is reported that AEW’s higher-ups and the locker room do not want him back and are in talks to buy out the remainder of his contract.

Voting No

If Punk is fired from AEW as many predict, then the only possible promotion able to afford his services is WWE.

Despite the very critical comments both sides have had over the years, there is a belief that Triple H would be interested in making a move to bring Punk back.

During a recent PWTorch.com audio show, Wade Keller addressed a possible Punk return, and that those close to the Game are against the idea (via Wrestling News.)

“Somebody who’s currently in WWE, and is within the sphere of influence of Paul Levesque’s decision-making would be a hard ‘No’ as of me asking this person today. A hard ‘No’ on endorsing the return of CM Punk, even if it would help business.”

Keller has previously reported that Triple H is more inclined to bring Punk back than his father-in-law Vince McMahon, who retired from WWE in July this year.

Not Wanted Back

Given Punk’s past issues with WWE, he may not be willing to return to the company who handed him his firing papers on his wedding day (mere coincidence WWE claims.)

In his report, Keller added that if WWE says no, then AEW may not be willing to bring him back either.

“I talked to three people of significant stature in AEW in the last couple of days…I asked how would a vote go in the AEW locker room if they were asked if they wanted Punk to return? One person said he wouldn’t fare very well. Another person said he thinks he might not get a single vote.”

AEW’s roster is said to be vehemently anti-Punk at this time, believing his comments during the All Out media scrum damaged the company.

Punk was heavily critical of ‘Hangman’ Adam Page, who has been one of AEW’s biggest stars since the company’s launch in 2019.

All Elite Wrestling is reportedly negotiating a buyout with CM Punk for the remaining years on his contract.

• CM Punk Probably Won’t Return to AEW

The 43-year-old debuted to a sold-out United Center on the 2nd episode of AEW Rampage last year. AEW and Punk sold out the venue on a rumor that he would be making his return to professional wrestling after seven long years away.

It was electric in Chicago when “Cult of Personality” blasted through the speakers and The Voice of the Voiceless had finally returned. Unfortunately, the good vibes were short-lived and Punk seemingly has squandered the opportunity he always complained about not getting in WWE.

Was CM Punk a Draw in All Elite Wrestling?

One of the criticisms of CM Punk is that he wasn’t a draw for the promotion. AEW President Tony Khan once vehemently defended the former two-time AEW World Champion from criticism from Eric Bischoff during a media scrum.

Wrestlenomics has provided some data that proves that CM Punk was a draw for All Elite Wrestling during his year in the promotion. According to Wrestlenomics, Punk increased quarter-hour ratings when he was on the screen. The five PPVs he appeared on are the highest-selling in promotion history. He main evented two $1m gates and has four of the top ten selling items on ShopAEW and PWTees this year.

CM Punk defeated Jon Moxley at AEW All Out in the NOW Arena in Chicago on September 4th. He tore his pectoral during the match and would have had to relinquish the title anyway.

However, CM Punk went on a rant to begin the media scrum after the PPV. During the rant, he insulted The Elite, Hangman Page, Colt Cabana, and others, all while AEW President Tony Khan was seated directly next to him.

After his rant, Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks reportedly went to the former AEW World Champion’s locker room and a brawl broke out. CM Punk’s friend and former AEW producer Ace Steel has been released from the company.

Was CM Punk destined to have an underwhelming run in AEW? That’s certainly what those close to the former World Champion believe.

Punk joined AEW in August 2021 after a seven-year hiatus from professional wrestling, and is a two-time World Champion with the company.

The Chicago-Made wrestler is currently out with an injury and has been suspended for his role in the AEW All Out 2022 post-show backstage fight.

This week, it was reported that AEW intends to buy out the remainder of Punk’s contract and fire him.

Destined To Be

Punk’s days with AEW are seemingly numbered, and some close to him believed this would always happen

During a recent PW Torch Elite Audio stream, Wade Keller reported that when he spoke to sources close to Punk before his AEW debut, they predicted his run would not go well.

Those same sources also said that Punk’s run with AEW “wouldn’t last,” which appears to be the case now.

Punk’s personality and history of discontent were cited as reasons why his run with AEW would end poorly.

Returning to WWE

If Punk is fired from AEW, the only place he could realistically wrestle next is WWE.

If so, then a deal will need to be struck with WWE’s Head of Talent Relations Triple H, who Punk has been highly critical of in the past.

In his report, Keller stated that Triple H is more likely to bring Punk back than Vince McMahon, who “never fully got behind” the AEW star.

It was also noted that Triple H may attempt to bring him back, to move metrics such as viewership and prove that WWE has not missed a beat post-Vince McMahon.

The Future of AEW

AEW made a huge deal of CM Punk’s arrival in August last year on Rampage: The First Dance, but the company will be okay without him.

Keller reported that while Punk would be a “net plus” in bringing in ticket sales and moving merchandise, he is far from ‘needed’ in AEW.

Keller pointed to the many established main event talent and rising mid-card talent, and is more than capable of growing without Punk.

It was said that any growth in AEW’s viewership due to Punk being on the show has happened at this point.

CM Punk’s days with All Elite Wrestling are seemingly coming to an end, which may be good news as far as Chris Jericho is concerned.

Punk hasn’t appeared for AEW since being suspended for his explosive All Out post-show media scrum comments and the backstage fight that ensued.

It was reported this week that AEW is seeking to buy-out the remainder of Punk’s contract which is believed to have close to two years left.

• Chris Jericho’s Best Gimmicks Ranked

Good Riddance

CM Punk’s arrival in AEW, over seven years away from the wrestling world, was a huge win for the company and met with excitement from fans.

In the 14 months since then, fans have soured on Punk, especially after his actions at All Out.

On Twitter, a fan noted how Punk had “one of the most triumphant comebacks ever” and has since become “so toxic that you’re not worth having around.”

The tweet gathered over 2,000 likes, including one from Chris Jericho.

Jericho has been a locker-room leader without Punk and the Elite around, alongside Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley.

In backstage meetings, Jericho has stressed the importance of keeping private matters private and not letting issues behind the scenes get leaked.

Punk in WWE?

AEW reportedly wants to be rid of CM Punk, but there is a fear that he could jump to WWE.

Punk walked out of WWE in January 2014, and received his termination papers in June on his wedding date, timing Vince McMahon insisted was coincidental.

While Punk has not spoken directly with WWE, he does speak with friends in the company including Adam Pearce and Paul Heyman.

CM Punk defeated Jon Moxley to win the AEW World Championship in the main event of AEW All Out on September 5th.

He suffered a torn tricep during the match and is out of action while he recovers from surgery. Following the PPV, All Elite Wrestling held a media scrum and led off with the newly crowned AEW World Champion.

CM Punk went on a rant for the ages while AEW President Tony Khan was seated right next to him. Punk claimed that the company’s EVPs weren’t capable of running a Target, let alone a wrestling company.

After his rant, Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks confronted CM Punk backstage and a brawl broke out. Ace Steel has been released from the company, CM Punk and The Elite were stripped of their titles and have not appeared on TV since All Out.

Will CM Punk Return to WWE?

It was reported earlier today by the Wrestling Observer that CM Punk is not likely to return to AEW and the company is working on a buyout for the former champion A non-compete clause appears to be the hold-up at the moment.

According to a new report from Fightful Select, sources within WWE believe that CM Punk would not have been brought back to the company with Vince McMahon at the helm, but that may not be the case with Triple H. A source told Fightful that Triple H wants to create compelling TV “more than anything” but can’t see WWE bringing CM Punk back on a full-time deal like he had in All Elite Wrestling.

However, if the money, creative and situation is right, Triple H’s regime can leave the door open for anything. It was also noted that Punk may not need to wrestle again if his contract gets bought out.

The report echoed previous sentiments that many within All Elite Wrestling do not want CM Punk back unless he makes serious amends for how he made the company look following All Out.

• CM Punk Probably Won’t Return to AEW

CM Punk’s days with AEW are seemingly coming to an end as the promotion is against the idea of bringing him back.

Punk, who debuted for AEW last year after a seven-year hiatus from wrestling, was suspended after the AEW All Out 2022 post-show backstage fight. The Chicago-Made wrestler was also stripped of the AEW World Championship and is believed to have thrown the first punch.

After All Out 2022, AEW President Tony Khan approved a third-party investigation into the fight and any possible legal ramifications.

In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, it is reported that AEW are in talks to buy out the remainder of Punk’s contract for an undisclosed sum. Dave Meltzer writes that this suggests that Khan and other higher-ups do not intend to bring Punk back to TV.

Sentiment within AEW is said to be very anti-Punk, and sympathetic to Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks.

• CM Punk is Probably Not Returning to AEW

A WWE Return?

If Punk is fired from AEW, then a return to WWE is possible, despite leaving on bad terms in January 2014.

Meltzer reports that there is an issue with the non-compete clause in Punk’s contract and AEW fear Punk joining WWE, likely the only promotion that can afford him.

WWE has been very negative about Punk in the past and did not sign the former World Champion when FOX pushed them to strike a deal.The belief is that signing Punk, even while he’s injured and won’t be able to wrestle for several months, would be a major coup for WWE.

Punk has been heavily critical of WWE and has not had any direct contact with the promotion. However, he is said to be good friends with Adam Pearce and Paul Heyman, both WWE employees. Neither Punk nor AEW responded to a request for comment.

Ace Steel

Punk’s trainer Ace Steel, who was also involved in the All Out fight, was fired earlier this week.

Steel is alleged to have bit Kenny Omega and thrown a chair that hit Nick Jackson in the eye.

Part of Steel and Punk’s defense is that he was protecting his wife, who was in the room at the time of the fight

Steel’s wife was never spoken to for the investigation.

It appears that AEW is finally starting to make some decisions after the long investigation into the backstage brawl that took place after All Out last month.

Dave Meltzer on the latest Wrestling Observer Radio confirmed on Wednesday that Ace Steel has officially been released from his contract:

“So he was officially released yesterday, so I guess that is the first bit of news out of that whole situation in weeks. There’s a lot of other stuff going on.”

Ace Steel joined AEW earlier this year and he worked as a producer backstage. He also made an on-screen appearance before All Out where he encouraged CM Punk to answer the open challenge issued by Jon Moxley.

The now former AEW talent was part of the backstage brawl that took place after the All Out media scrum on September 5.

CM Punk first called out AEW EVPs during his post-media scrum. He was confronted by The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega once he reached his locker room.

• AEW is Going Through “Addition by Subtraction” After All Out Controversy

Steel who was on Punk’s side joined in the physical confrontation and it was reported that he bit Kenny Omega at one point.

AEW suspended everyone involved in the brawl. The company has not made any public comments about the incident and has been criticised for their silence over the matter.

Former AEW World Champion went on a rant during the media scrum after All Out that the wrestling world is still talking about.

After his rant, CM Punk brawled with The Elite and everyone was subsequently stripped of their titles (AEW World Championship & Trios Championships) and have not been seen on AEW TV since the PPV on September 4th.

Jon Moxley once again captured the AEW World Championship by defeating Bryan Danielson in the finals of the Tournament of Champions at Dynamite: Grand Slam. Moxley is set to defend the title next week on a special Tuesday night edition of Dynamite.

Rob Van Dam On The Ego Of CM Punk

Rob Van Dam recently joined Kenny McIntosh for an Inside the Ropes live show and discussed the former AEW World Champion. RVD hilariously compared CM Punk to a stripper during the conversation.

Rob added that the guys that make it to the top of the wrestling industry often times have the biggest egos but are also the ones he finds crazy.

• CM Punk is Probably Not Returning to AEW

H/T: Inside the Ropes

Road Dogg doesn’t understand CM Punk’s us of “Cult Of Personality” as his entrance theme.

Taking to his podcast, “Oh You Didn’t Know,” Road Dogg discussed Punk’s use of the song by Living Colour for his theme. In Dogg’s opinion, the song doesn’t really match Punk’s personality.

“Buying ‘Cult of Personality’ for CM Punk makes zero sense to me. Yes that was his theme song for a minute, but why?

“[Whatever song they would’ve picked for his return] would’ve been fine, it would’ve been CM Punk’s new song and they could’ve found one in a music library that was close enough to where we can either copy this, rip it off a little bit, change it a little bit and own it, or we can just use that one, pay the library costs.

“I don’t know, I don’t think the’ Cult of Personality’ defines him in my mind or not. I don’t know if I’m just bringing that up because I’m negative about him all the time.”

Road Dogg and CM Punk have certainly had their issues with one another in the past. In a past podcast, the D-X member noted that he once wanted to fight Punk for the lack of respect he would show to veterans such as himself and The New Age Outlaws.

Currently, Punk is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) where he is a multi-time World Champion for the promotion. However, he’s currently nursing an injury that has him sidelined from in-ring action.

He was also involved in a backstage altercation with other AEW talents that has caused quite a bit of backstage drama within the promotion. His future with AEW remains in question.

• CM Punk is Probably Not Returning to AEW

Quotes via Wrestling Inc.

It has been over a month since fans saw The Elite on AEW programming, but there was a mention of the group on last night’s Dynamite.

The Elite, consisting of Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks, have been suspended from AEW for their role in the All Out 2022 post-show backstage fight.

Punk has also been removed from AEW programming and became the first wrestler stripped of the AEW World Championship.

The Bucks and Omega were also stripped of the AEW Trios titles, which they had won on the All Out pay-per-view.

AEW Dynamite

There’s still no word on when The Elite will be back on AEW programming, but ‘Hangman’ Adam Page made a nod to the group last night.

During a segment with AEW World Champion Jon Moxley, Page’s toughness was called into question.

In response, Page said that he “hesitated in May, and it cost me,” a nod to his AEW World Championship loss to CM Punk at Double or Nothing.

In a more direct reference to The Elite, Page talked about how he misses seeing his “best friends” around.

“I have to watch, as week after week, they seemingly disappear. My old friends, they have disappeared.”

‘Hangman’ Adam Page referencing The Elite.

This wasn’t the only nod to The Elite at AEW’s debut in Toronto as shirts for The Elite, stylized in the Canadian flag, were sold.

The Investigation

Despite these references, neither Punk nor The Elite is expected back until the ongoing investigation is finished.

An external investigation is underway but is reportedly being delayed due to one person involved threatening a lawsuit.

While the Bucks and Omega are not expected to lose their jobs, it is believed that Punk could be fired, or quit AEW.

• CM Punk is Probably Not Returning to AEW

A fan-favorite is expected to be returning to AEW very soon.

Japanese star Konosuke Takeshita, who had been building up his reputation at DDT-Pro, began regularly competing for AEW earlier this year and quickly won over the hearts of the AEW Universe with his in-ring performances. The 27-year old had marquee matchups against Adam Page, Jon Moxley, Eddie Kingston, and nearly won the ROH championship from Claudio Castagnoli at their encounter at Battle of the Belts III.

While Takeshita came up short in all of the aforementioned matchups his stock grew heavily within the company. He picked up a series of wins on their weekly Youtube shows (Dark: Elevation, Dark), as well as a victory over Ryan Nemeth on an edition of their TNT program, Rampage. Takeshita’s run with the company ended over the summer as he had to return to Japan.

A New Report Says Takeshita Will Be Back In AEW In Two Weeks

According to Dave Meltzer from the Wrestling Observer, AEW is hoping to have Takeshita return in the next couple of weeks. While this is exciting Meltzer does note that there don’t seem to be any plans for Takeshita at the moment, but that could obviously change very quickly due to the nature of booking these shows.

The return couldn’t come at a better time for AEW, who have a number of top stars currently on the sideline either due to injury, suspension, or a mixture of both. This includes CM Punk, Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, Adam Cole, Malakai Black, and now…Andrade El Idolo.

Are you excited to see Takeshita back in AEW?

Former AEW World Champion CM Punk is currently under suspension for his role in the altercation with The Elite following the All Out media scrum.

CM Punk defeated Jon Moxley in the main event of AEW All Out to become AEW World Champion. It was his 2nd reign with the title without ever making a title defense. MJF returned after the title match to have a stare-down with CM Punk.

Jon Moxley has since captured the title once again by defeating Bryan Danielson in the finals of the Tournament of Champions at Dynamite: Grand Slam. CM Punk reportedly suffered a torn triceps during the title match at All Out and was spotted wearing a brace in a recent photo.

Rob Van Dam on CM Punk’s Comments at the All Out Media Scrum

ECW legend and former WWE Superstar Rob Van Dam joined Rene Dupree and Paul London on a recent episode of the Cafe de Rene podcast. Rob discussed Punk’s comments and said that he wants to see what happens next.

Rob Van Dam then claimed that there is a good chance that CM Punk has as big of an ego as anybody else he’s ever interacted with in the wrestling business.

• CM Punk is Probably Not Returning to AEW

Please credit Cafe de Rene with a H/T to SEScoops if you use quotes from this article.

CM Punk has kept his silence and mostly stayed away from the public eye ever since his All Out media scrum rant and the post-show brawl.

The only update we have gotten about the AEW star has been through various reports. One such update revealed that the former AEW champion had to undergo surgery for a torn triceps.

This report was seemingly confirmed recently when a new photo of the Straight Edge Star surfaced online. In the photo with a fan as seen below, CM Punk is spotted wearing a brace on his left arm:

CM Punk Done With AEW?

There has been lots of rumors about the AEW future of the former WWE star ever since his media scrum comments led to the backstage altercation at All Out.

There are many who believe that Punk is done with the company after this and he won’t be brought back in any capacity. The belief is that AEW is taking their time to sort out any potential legal situations before releasing the 42-year-old.

The wrestling promotion itself, however, has stayed quiet on the matter. There has been no update on how the investigation on the incident is going, so it’s hard to say how the management is planning to handle Punk’s departure.

• CM Punk is Probably Not Returning to AEW

As the month of September comes to an end the pro-wrestling community is still reeling from the events of the AEW ALL OUT media scrum, and the tirade from former two-time world champion CM Punk, who called out the wrestling media for their “mishandling” of the Colt Cabana situation. The Second City Saint also took aim at the AEW EVPs Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks.

The situation only became worse when a backstage melee occurred between Punk and the Elite, one that got multiple names suspended and threw a wrench into several ongoing storylines that cause Tony Khan to alter his plans once again. At this point an investigation is still going on, with Punk’s status the biggest question mark up in the air. A number of top legends, analysts, and current superstars have weighed in on this monumental moment, and now we can add one more to the list.

Mick Foley Calls Punk’s tirade a disaster for AEW President Tony Khan

WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley spoke about the ALL OUT media scrum and the ensuing backstage altercation on the latest edition of his Foley Is Pod program. The Hardcore legend begins by stating the obvious, which is that Punk’s comments at the scrum were counterproductive to his world title win earlier in the evening, and put AEW President Tony Khan in a terrible position.

“I think anything that takes away from the majesty of that moment is counterproductive. By that standard, everything Phil did, Punk did, was disastrous because it put Tony Khan in a bad position. Anything that ends up with, Punk I believe was hurt and would have probably been out. But it put a lot of eyeballs on the product the next night, that’s a given. It was just really unfortunate. You don’t want to see that side of your superstars.”

That’s not all. Foley further elaborated on the situation by comparing Punk’s victory over Jon Moxley to his victory over The Rock, his first world title win in WWE.

“You know, I know when I held that title aloft when I beat [The Rock] for the WWE Title, and I never thought I was a WWE Title guy, so I never based my career on it the way that a lot of people have. But I remember that feeling of just utter joy. I moved pretty good for a big guy when I ran my two or three laps around there and then gave the impromptu promo, Big Daddio did it. I can’t imagine going backstage and being angry or bitter, or taking the joy out of the experience for our fans. So I didn’t see Punk’s promo in its entirety, but it put Tony Khan in a bad position, and there’s a time and a place, maybe, to play with emotions. If you have something substantial that can make people feel strange in their gut, but not after a title win.”

Aside from just the incident Punk was also injured during his matchup with Moxley, which has put him on the shelf once again. At this time it is unknown if he will return when he is all healed up.

CM Punk is Probably Not Returning to AEW

WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash spoke about the brawl between CM Punk and The Elite at the All Out media scrum on a recent episode of his Kliq This podcast.

Co-host Sean Oliver read a comment from a fan that suggested that CM Punk simply just snapped and that we are all human. Kevin responded by poking fun at CM Punk’s comments at the press conference when he said he was old, tired, and works with children.

“At 42 years old, you know, I mean Phil (CM Punk) is tired. Phil’s tired, he’s beat up.”

Sean noted that Kevin Nash was in the ring when he was 55 and the 63-year-old brought up his promo with Punk on RAW following WWE SummerSlam 2011.

Kevin also laughed at the idea of Pat Buck and Chris Daniels getting suspended because of the altercation. Big Daddy Cool did compliment CM Punk for being a pro during his matches before the All Out brawl and claimed he saw a lot of himself in the disgruntled star.

If you use quotes from this article, please credit the Kliq This podcast and give a H/T to SEScoops for the transcription.

• CM Punk is Probably Not Returning to AEW

Sammy Guevara and Eddie Kingston are set to battle this Friday night at AEW Rampage Grand Slam from Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Grand Slam is one of All Elite Wrestling’s biggest events of the year and there are several exciting matchups on both Dynamite and Rampage this week. Friday’s Grand Slam edition of Rampage will be a special two-hour show.

Guevara and Kingston were supposed to square off at All Out but real-life personal issues prevented the match from happening. The issue stemmed from a Rampage taping in August. Sammy cut a promo in the ring with Tay Melo and called Eddie a “fat piece of sh*t”. Kingston got heated about the comments and confronted Sammy backstage.

The altercation led to Eddie getting suspended for two weeks and their match at AEW All Out being canceled. Eddie apologized for his actions, Sammy issued a statement, and the two men have apparently put the real-life issue behind them so that they can work together again. The promo never aired on television but a fan uploaded the footage and you can check it out below.

The Benefit of Using Real-Life Drama In Storylines

Eddie Kingston cut a promo about the upcoming match and stated that he doesn’t respect Sammy Guevara and thinks he’s a horrible person. Kingston vowed to “beat the piss” out of Guevara this Friday at Rampage Grand Slam.

“You may think I don’t like you or I don’t respect you because of the things you say, or because you are so in love with Twitter, and the only reason why you are in this great sport is to be famous. You don’t care, but nah Sammy, it is not because of any of that. No man, I don’t like you and I don’t respect you because inside when I look into your eyes, I see nothing but a horrible, rotten human being. You make me sick and that is why I am going to beat the piss out of you in Queens.”

Eddie’s brief promo above is a great example of how a real-life issue can be spun into a positive in the wrestling business. He clearly does not like Sammy personally, but that doesn’t mean they cannot provide an entertaining product to fans as professionals. The Mad King is always passionate in his promos, but you can tell when there is something extra behind it.

There was nothing cute about what he said about Sammy Guevara and there were no jokes. He simply called Sammy a horrible person that he wants to beat the hell out of in the match. Enough said, I’m sold. Kingston also got personal in his memorable rivalry with CM Punk leading up to their match at Full Gear and it added to the rivalry. This was before CM Punk decided to get offended about such things.

Can CM Punk & The Elite Do The Same?

It seems ludicrous to suggest that CM Punk, Kenny Omega, and The Young Bucks could put their issues behind them at this point, but some fans are still holding out hope. In case you’ve been under a rock, CM Punk went on an expletive-filled rant about Colt Cabana, Hangman Page, and The Young Bucks following winning the title at All Out.

Instead of talking about becoming champion again, Punk opted to go on a twenty-minute rant while eating muffins. To make matters worse, he was also injured during the match and relinquished the title again. He is a two-time AEW Champion without making a single title defense.

The former AEW Champion claimed that the EVPs (Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks) could not even manage a target and blamed them for starting the rumors that he wanted to get Colt Cabana fired. The EVPs then confronted CM Punk in his locker room and a wild Ace Steel appeared. Ace Steel is/was an AEW producer that was unknown to the audience until the Wednesday before All Out, in which he delivered a passionate promo to convince CM Punk to accept the match against Jon Moxley.

The circumstances surrounding the brawl make it seem highly unlikely that CM Punk and The Elite could work together in the future, but they would have everyone’s attention if they did. AEW Brawl Out remains one of the biggest stories of the year and people are still awaiting to find out the repercussions for everyone involved.

While CM Punk probably shouldn’t be relied on to carry the company anymore as he’s injured again, a Trios match with FTR against The Elite would be instant money for AEW. One can only hope that CM Punk and The Elite can follow in Eddie Kingston’s footsteps and put the past behind them. Hopefully, a positive can be found in Punk’s injury and it might actually allow the time needed for cooler heads to prevail.

• CM Punk is Probably Not Returning to AEW

Last night’s AEW Grand Slam Dynamite saw Jon Moxley capture his third-world title under the AEW banner, a definite departure from the company’s original booking plans following a number of issues with former champion, CM Punk.

The Second City Saint broke his foot shortly after winning the world title from Adam Page at May’s Double or Nothing pay-per-view, which was going to kickstart a renewed Summer of Punk, and would have seen him walk into ALL OUT 2022 holding the top prize. While Punk managed to reclaim the gold at ALL OUT from Moxley, the original booking plan would have seen him face one of his most recent rivals.

CM Punk vs. MJF III Was Originally Going To Headline ALL OUT 2022

According to Dave Meltzer from the Wrestling Observer, Punk was originally going to be defending the AEW world title against MJF. This would have been the two top stars third meeting, with each holding a victory over the other. MJF handed Punk his first loss on Dynamite thanks to an assist from Wardlow. Punk would get his revenge at Revolution in a critically acclaimed Dog-Collar matchup.

It was not specified in the report whether MJF’s temporary hiatus would have played out the way it did on television. MJF has since won the Casino Ladder Match, and has the right to challenge for the AEW world title whenever he pleases.

Stay tuned.